Prevalence and intensity of Loa loa infection over twenty-three years in three communities of the Mbalmayo health district (Central Cameroon)

Autor: André Domche, Steve Mbickmen-Tchana, Honoré Djomo-Kamga, Joseph Kamgno, Floribert Fossuo-Thotchum, Jean Bopda, Aude E. Mogoung-Wafo, Hugues C. Nana-Djeunga
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: BMC Infectious Diseases, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2019)
BMC Infectious Diseases
ISSN: 1471-2334
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3776-y
Popis: Background Loiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease due to Loa loa and transmitted to humans by tabanids of the genus Chrysops. Loiasis has been historically considered as the second or third most common reason for medical consultation after malaria, and a recent study has reported an excess mortality associated with the infection. However, the clinical impact of this filarial disease is yet to be elucidated, and it is still considered a benign disease eliciting very little attention. As a consequence of post-treatment severe adverse events occurring in individuals harboring very high Loa microfilarial loads, ivermectin is not recommended in onchocerciasis hypo-endemic areas that are co-endemic for loiasis. Without treatment, it is likely that the transmission of the disease and the morbidity associated with the infection will increase over time. This study aimed at investigating the long-term trends in prevalence and intensity of Loa loa infection in an area where no mass anti-filarial treatment has ever been distributed. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three communities of the Mbalmayo health district (Central Cameroon). All volunteers, males and females aged five years and above, underwent daytime calibrated thick blood smears (CTBS) to search for L. loa microfilariae (mf). A structured questionnaire was administered to assess the history of both loiasis related clinical signs and migration of enrollees. Results The prevalence of loiasis was 27.3% (95% CI: 22.3–32.9) in the three surveyed communities, with a mean mf density of 1922.7 (sd: 6623.2) mf/mL. Loa loa infection rate was higher amongst females than in males (p = 0.0001) and was positively associated with age of (OR = 1.018; p = 0.007). The intensity of infection was higher among males than in females (p
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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